Can opener



Sept. 3, 1957 J. E. HAMMOND 2,804,683

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 1, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Judd E. HGJTLITc TLd.

l a i United States Patent CAN OPENER Judd E. Hammond, Mount Sterling, Ky.

Application August 1, 1955, Serial No, 525,466

2 Claims. (CI. 30-16) This invention relates to an opening device for containers and the like, and it particularly relates to an opening device which is adapted to open a variety of different types of containers.

The opening devices now in general use usually comprise one type adapted to act as a punch to punch holes in the top of beer cans, oil cans and the like, while the other type is the so-called can-opener type which is adapted to cut away the entire top wall of the can. However, neither of these two types of devices can act for both purposes and, therefore, it is necessary to have two separate openers on hand at all times. This is both expensive and inconvenient. In addition, the presently used can-opener cannot be conveniently used to open square or rectangular type cans.

It is therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an opening device which can act both as a punch and as a can-opener.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening device which incorporates a variety of opening functions in one device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening device which is adapted to readily cut square and rectangular cans as well as those of circular shape.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved opening device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an opening device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a can shown being opened by the device of Fig. 1, also shown in perspective.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary, side elevational views showing the opening device in two different opening positions.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown an opening device, generally designated 10, comprising an elongated, generally flat shank 12 which is integrally provided with a wedge-shaped end section 14 at one end and a slotted, double-pronged end section 16 at its opposite end.

The wedge-shaped section 14 is provided with a base portion, adjacent the shank, which is wider than the shank and then curves toward the tip of the wedge section, the two oppositely curved edges being shown at 18 and 29. The entire section 14 is offset from the flat plane of the shank 12 by means of shoulder 22. From this shoulder portion, the section 14 curves upwardly to its pointed tip 24 which lies in the same plane as the shank 12, as best seen in Fig. 2.

A lateral slot 26 extends from the edge 20 about halfway through the wedge-shaped section 14 adjacent the shoulder 22. Both the edge 18 and the edge 20, which extends from the pointed tip 24 to the slot 26, are constructed as knife-like cutting edges with the rear end point of the edge 20, adjacent the slot, being indicated at 28.

Extending laterally out from the shoulder 22 is a detent 30. This detent 30, which may be punched out of the shoulder 22 and then bent laterally away therefrom, is provided with a reverse end portion 32. Adjacent the detent 30 is provided a second detent 34, formed by the end portion of the shoulder 22 and bent slightly in a direction opposite to that of detent 30. In this manner, the two detents 30 and 34 extend laterally to the flat surfaces of the shank, but in opposite directions.

At the opposite end of the shank, the section 16 comprises a rectangular portion 36, separated by a slot 33 from a cutting blade portion 40. The portion 36 extends straight out, Whereas the blade portion 40 is offset from the fiat plane of the shank in a direction reverse from that of the section 14, so that a shoulder 42 is formed between the blade 40 and the shank. The blade 40 is provided with a tapered knife-like cutting edge ending in a point 46.

In operation, the opener can be used as a punch device for punching holes in the end wall of a beer can or the like. This is done in the ordinary manner by using the detent 30 to engage the beaded rim of the can to form a fulcrum and by then moving the other end of the shank up to force the wedge-section 14 into the can. In this operation, both of the cutting edges 18 and 20 come into play. The device can also be used in similar manner to form a bottle cap lifter. When used in this way, the end portion 32 of the detent 30 is inserted under the edge of the cap and section 14 is positioned in overlying relationship to the top of the cap. The tip of the section 14 then acts as the fulcrum while detent 30 acts to force up the cap.

When it is desired to cut around the rim of the can, as is ordinarily done with a can-opener, the point 28 is inserted into the can, as shown in Fig. 4, and the device is then used as a lever to move the cutting edge 20 around the periphery of the can. It should be noted that the construction of this device whereby the lateral detent 34 serves as the fulcrum point during the cutting action, enables this opener to be used for both circular and square or rectangular cans.

The rectangular prong 38 of the section 36 can be used in various ways. It may, for example, be used for prying up the tops of vacuum jars, bottle tops or the like; or it may be used as a screw driver. The prong 40, with its pointed cutting blade portion, can be used to punch holes in milk bottle caps as well as for various other similar purposes. The entire device is preferably constructed of steel or other material strong enough to bear the strain of use.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A can opening device comprising an elongated shank, a wedge shaped cutter head section extending axially from one end of said shank, a slot extending from one edge of said wedge shaped section toward the axis of said shank, an arcuate cutting edge including a laterally sharpened edge on said wedge shaped cutter head section terminated at the tip of said wedge shaped cutter head section, and said slot, a second cutting edge on the opposite side of said wedge shaped cutter head section extending from said tip to a point opposite said slot, and a pair of offset oppositely extending detents, said detents being offset relative to each other and relative to the plane of said shank, one of said detents being offset on the same side as said cutter head and not extending beyond said cutter head, said detents extending into said slot and extending at a substantial acute angle relative to the axis of said plane of said shank, the detent extending from the side of the plane of said shank opposite said cutter head being partially reverted and having its outer end extending back to the plane of said shank.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said Wedge-shaped section is curved in a plane perpendicular to the axial plane of said shank, the tip of said wedge shaped section being in substantially the same axial plane as said shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,046,879 Leppke July 7, 1936 2,280,336 Maihack Apr. 21, 1942 2,553,176 Davids May 15, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Mechem, abstract of application Serial No. 125,513, published April 17, 1951, 645 O. G. 1027. 

